Source: ChiSox 'extremely close' to Soriano deal  —  The White Sox are "extremely close" to trading for Nationals outfielder Alfonso Soriano, a source close to the situation told ESPN The Magazine's Tim Kurkjian.  The Nationals have great interest in pitcher Brandon McCarthy.

Vote of confidence  —  Hall of Famer Robinson sticks up for A-Rod  —  HOT SPRINGS, Ark. (AP) — Hang in there, A-Rod.  The gold standard of defensive third basemen is in your corner.  —  Brooks Robinson was in his home state of Arkansas on Monday hosting a celebrity golf tournament …

Slapstick home run livens up Safeco lore  —  In its short history, the local ballyard has not been a repository of exotic moments.  —  Perhaps it is the uptight franchise's penchant for neatness, propriety and politeness.  Maybe the yard needs an ex-player's ghost to haunt a bullpen.

Another big first paces Tigers to victory  —  Detroit first team since 1891 with three five-run firsts in row  —  CLEVELAND — It couldn't have been this nerve-wracking for the 1891 St. Louis Browns.  Score five or six in the first inning, tack on some runs, and take the will out of the likes …

Cubs place Lee back on DL with wrist inflammation … FLUSHING, N.Y. — Clearly bothered by inflammation of the right wrist after undergoing surgery three months ago, Derrek Lee was put back on the disabled list by the Chicago Cubs on Monday.  —  The slugging first baseman hit just .227 …

Sosa can't believe he's not a 'Hero'  —  Especially after all his 'glorious years' as Cubs slugger  —  Sammy Sosa is incredulous at being left off the list of five Cubs "Hometown Heroes."  —  In a wide-ranging phone interview with the Tribune from his home in Miami, the former slugger reacted …

Scouting can be daunting for players  —  South Florida Sun-Sentinel  —  "The book" on an opposing starter in the minor leagues, if one is even available, is easy reading.  Best pitches.  Out pitches.  Maybe some velocities.  It's the equivalent of short sentences with not too many multisyllabic words.

Nationals name Mike Rizzo Assistant GM and Vice President of Baseball Operations  —  Former Diamondbacks scouting executive laid foundation of talent that resulted in organization's No. 1 ranking per Baseball America  —  The Washington Nationals today appointed Mike Rizzo as Assistant General Manager …

OK outing for Lester, family  —  SEATTLE — By his count, Jon Lester figures there were about 50 family members and friends in the stands yesterday at Safeco Field, a place they'd seen him pitch once before, while he was still starring for Bellarmine Prep in Tacoma.

Armas on mark against Cubs  —  Right-hander Tony Armas Jr., who has had problems going deep into games because of high pitch counts this season, threw seven strong innings yesterday to lead the Washington Nationals to a 7-1 victory against the Chicago Cubs.  —  Armas allowed just one run …

Five trades that need to happen  —  Baseball's July 31 non-waiver trade deadline is in the offing, and that means it's an especially frenzied time of year.  —  Baseball fans are already inundated with stories about who might go where and who's already gone somewhere, so let's shift the focus a bit.

SAVE YOURSELF FROM STATISTICS  —  IT'S OFFICIAL.  We've all gone nuts.  Just as the bells cost Quasimodo his hearing, the numbers - stats and their misapplication - have cost us our sanity.  —  Saturday, during Astros-Mets on Fox, Joe Buck noted that the Nats' Livan Hernandez …

Future Shock  —  2B Alberto Callaspo, Triple-A Tucson (Diamondbacks)  —  Callaspo is on another roll, with Sunday's five-hit performance as part of Tucson's 28-5 drubbing of Salt Lake representing his fifth consecutive multi-hit game.  It's a streak in which he's gone 15-for-27 with a pair of doubles …

Notes: Randolph to use six-man rotation  —  Rookies Maine, Pelfrey to get at least one more start  —  NEW YORK — Gil Hodges and Rube Walker, the Mets manager and pitching coach in 1969, respectively, generally are credited with introducing the five-man rotation.